Bruce Willis’ young daughters have not brought up questions about their father’s death despite his progressing frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. According to his wife Emma Heming Willis, the children are focusing on the present rather than the uncertain future.
The 70-year-old actor was diagnosed with FTD earlier in the year and has been receiving 24/7 care at a separate facility since September due to the severity of his condition. This neurodegenerative disorder impairs communication and causes personality changes, making it a challenging disease for families to cope with.
Emma shared with USA Today that while daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, are already grieving Bruce’s reduced presence, they have yet to ask about his death. She emphasized the importance of honesty, stating, “If they are to ask, I will tell them, but I think that they’re more focused on the present day.”
The former model and author, who wrote about caring for Bruce, stressed the need for society to discuss death openly. “We’re not thinking about care and our care plans, and we’re not thinking about death,” she said. Emma has created a care plan to ease future decisions for her daughters, helping prepare them emotionally and practically.
Bruce’s eldest daughter, Rumer Willis, gave an update via Instagram in November, revealing that her father no longer recognizes his children. She described answering questions about his condition as “hard” but expressed gratitude for still being able to visit and hug him. Rumer shares Scout and Tallulah with Bruce through his previous marriage to Demi Moore.
FTD is an incurable disease with symptoms that typically progress over 7 to 13 years. It is known for impacting speech and behavior, and Bruce Willis’ case has highlighted the emotional toll on families dealing with such diagnoses. Emma’s approach of educating her children and fostering an environment of openness aims to help them face the difficult road ahead while preserving moments of connection in the present.
Read more at: www.perthnow.com.au
